Home made absorption panels.....

04-20-06: Capt369
Thanks Tvad, Perfectionist has quite a set-up. My problem still remains with the sliding glass door with vertical metal venetion blinds.

Replacing the metal vertical blinds with fabric vertical blinds will be a good start, but I'm sure you've already considered this.

Yes, problem would be solved but it`s a rental.

Good luck.

You can make frames out of inexpensive 1x2 lumber, which gives you 1.5" depth. Cut high-density foam (or other acoustic materials) to fit the frame. Then, go to your local fabric store and pick out your choice of inexpensive fabric (you will be surprised at how many styles and patterns you can choose from - even "artistic" patterns/colors). Then, stretch the fabric over the frames and staple. Hang as you would a picture frame. If interior decorating isn't your thing, take your girlfriend/wife/mom with you to the fabric store! You can make a lot of panels that actually look very good "artsy" for cheap. I did this and it worked. Then I got remarried and had to sell the whole house - dedicated room and all!!

If you want to use what pro recording studios use, as well as the manufacturers of high-end absorption panels, then you want what's known as "compressed fiberglass" or "rigid fiberglass."

Two of the more popular versions of this are the Owens-Corning 703 & Owens-Corning 705. This is a specialty item that you cannot find at Home Depot or Lowes, and depending on where you live, may have to be mail-ordered. If you can pick it up in-person at a supplier like I did, then after buying some spray-glue and fabric, you can make 2' x 4' x 2" thick pro acoustic panels for about $12 a pop! Compare that to the $50-$200 often charged.

Everything that you need to know is here: http://www.ethanwiner.com/acoustics.html

There's plenty to read & learn there to keep you busy for awhile. In fact I think that this site would be a great read for most A'goners.

I made myself a bunch of these and they much improved the acoustics of the room. And they look great too. They are also light-weight and easy to move around.

Good luck,
Ray